Records of the Canterbury Museum, 2020 Vol. 34: 85–94 85 A redescription of Philoponella congregabilis, an Australian hackled orb weaver spider (Uloboridae) now found in Christchurch, New Zealand Cor J Vink1,2,3 and Kate M Curtis1,3 1Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand 2Zoological Museum, Centre of Natural History, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, D-0146 Hamburg, Germany 3Department of Pest-management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand Email: [email protected] Philoponella congregabilis (Rainbow, 1916), an Australian spider in the family Uloboridae, has recently established in Christchurch, New Zealand. The species is redescribed. It builds reduced, horizontal or sloping orb webs in low vegetation, on fences, under eaves and in outbuildings. The webs of different individuals can be interconnected. Philoponella congregabilis is found in eastern and southeastern Australia and its current New Zealand distribution is limited to the southern suburbs of Christchurch. Keywords: invasive spider, taxonomy, uloborid Introduction The Uloboridae include small spiders that are congregabilis (Rainbow, 1916) established unusual in that they do not have cheliceral itself in Christchurch and has now spread to a venom glands. Instead of envenomating number of localities in southern Christchurch. their prey, uloborids wrap their prey tightly Because the original and only description of with large amounts of silk, which breaks the P. congregabilis is not sufficient to identify cuticle (Eberhard et al. 2006). The spider then specimens with certainty, we redescribe P. regurgitates digestive enzymes over its prey congregabilis here. We also plot its current and feeds on the liquefied body (e.g. Weng et distribution in New Zealand so that any al. 2006). Most uloborids, including the genus further spread can be followed. Philoponella Mello-Leitão, 1917, construct small, reduced, cribellate orb webs and are Methods commonly known as hackled orb weavers. Uloborids can be mistaken for small members Specimens were collected from locations in of the orb weaving family Araneidae, but the south of Christchurch. In some cases can be differentiated by their cribellum and adults could not be found, so immature calamistrum (Figs 1–4). These structures are specimens were reared in the laboratory used to produce cribellate (hackled) webbing. until they moulted as adults. Specimens were Waitkera waitakerensis (Chamberlain, examined in 80% ethanol with a dissection 1946), found only in the North Island (Opell microscope. Female internal genitalia were 2006), used to be the only species in the excised using a sharp entomological needle family Uloboridae known from New Zealand. and cleared in lactic acid. All measurements That changed sometime before October 2014, are in millimetres (mm). Measurements of when the Australian species Philoponella the redescribed specimens were made using 86 Cor J Vink and Kate M Curtis Figure 1. Ventral view of the anterior of a male Figure 3. Ventral view of the anterior of a female Philoponella congregabilis (ZMH A0002084). Philoponella congregabilis (ZMH-A0002084). Abbreviations: ALS, anterior lateral spinneret; Abbreviations: ALS, anterior lateral spinneret; PLS, posterior lateral spinneret; PMS, posterior PLS, posterior lateral spinneret; PMS, posterior median spinneret median spinneret Figure 2. Hindleg IV of male Philoponella Figure 4. Hindleg IV of female Philoponella congregabilis (ZMH A0002084) showing the congregabilis (ZMH A0002084) showing the calamistrum on the dorsal surface of the calamistrum on the dorsal surface of the metatarsus metatarsus Nikon NIS Elements software and a Nikon and microscope examination for detail and DS-Ri1 camera attached to a Nikon AZ100M shading. Morphological nomenclature of the stereomicroscope. Carapace and body length pedipalp and the epigynum follows Opell measurements of multiple specimens were (1979). made with a micrometer ruler fitted to the Type specimens of P. congregabilis were eyepiece of a Leica MZ8 stereomicroscope. The loaned from the Australian Museum, Sydney, colouration description is given from specimens Australia, as the original illustrations by preserved in 80% ethanol. High resolution Rainbow (1916) were only lateral views of the images of specimens were produced by Nadine entire male and female specimens, therefore Dupérré at the Zoological Museum, Centre identification could not be certain. High of Natural History, University of Hamburg, quality images of the types of the other two using a BK Plus Lab System (Dun, Inc.) with Australian Philoponella species that are held integrated Canon camera, macro lens (65 mm) at the Zoological Museum, Centre of Natural and Zerene focus stacking software. Specimens History, University of Hamburg (ZMH), were were also illustrated by Nadine Dupérré who compared to P. congregabilis; a syntype male used digital photos to establish proportions and female of P. variabilis (Keyserling, 1887) A redescription of Philoponella congregabilis, an Australian hackled orb weaver spider 87 Figure 5. Left male pedipalp of Philoponella Figure 6. Left male pedipalp of Philoponella congregabilis, lateral view (ZMH A0002084). congregabilis, retrolateral view (ZMH Abbreviations: CBL, conductor basal lobe; CS, A0002084). Abbreviations: C, cymbium; CBL, conductor spike; FT, femoral tubercle; MAB, conductor basal lobe; CS, conductor spike; median apopysis bulb; MAS, median apophysis MAB, median apophysis bulb; MAS, median spur apophysis spur (ZMH A0002113) and the possible type of P. Other specimens examined: New Zealand: pantherina (Keyserling, 1890) (ZMH A09184). Christchurch: Hoon Hay, 43.5744°S, Specimens of P. congregabilis have been 172.6150°E, 18 Oct 2014, coll. M Provis, 1 male placed in the Canterbury Museum (CMNZ), (CMNZ 2020.94.1). Cashmere, 43.5627°S, Lincoln University Entomological Research 172.6372°E, on fence, 7 Nov 2016, coll. K M Museum (LUNZ), Museum of New Zealand Curtis, 2 males, 1 female (CMNZ 2020.94.2, Te Papa Tongarewa (MONZ), New Zealand 2020.94.3, 2020.94.8). Westmorland, Arthropod Collection (NZAC) and ZMH. 43.5825°S, 172.6057°E, outside greenhouse, 7 July 2019, coll. K M Curtis, collected as Taxonomy juveniles and reared in lab until adults, 1 male, 1 female (MONZ AS.004744); same Philoponella congregabilis (Rainbow, 1916) data, 3 males, 2 females (NZAC 03029409). Figures 1–16 Westmorland, 43.5825°S, 172.6057°E, in Uloborus congregabilis Rainbow 1916: 59, figs greenhouse, 23 July 2019, coll. K M Curtis, 1–2 (male and female). collected as juveniles and reared in lab until Philoponella congregabilis (Rainbow); Lehtinen adults, 2 males, 3 females (ZMH A0002084); 1967: 258 (transferred from Uloborus). same data, 1 male, 1 female (CMNZ 2020.94.4, 2020.94.5); same data, 1 male, 2 females Type specimens: Syntypes: 1 male and 3 females (LUNZ 00012949). Somerfield, 43.56265°S, (AM KS6766), 2 males and 4 females (AM 172.62785°E, in web in garden, 4 Nov 2019, KS9272), examined. Australia: New South coll. C J Vink, 1 female (CMNZ 2020.94.6). Wales: Parramatta, 11 Jan 1915, coll. A R Cashmere, 43.57547°S, 172.62914°E, in McCulloch. potting shed, 24 Nov 2019, coll. C J Vink & S J 88 Cor J Vink and Kate M Curtis Figure 7. Male Philoponella congregabilis, lateral view (ZMH A0002084) Crampton, 1 female (CMNZ 2020.94.7); same other uloborid found in New Zealand, by the data, 1 female and eggsac (CMNZ 2020.94.9). large dorsal projection on the anterior half of Huntsbury, 43.5643°S, 172.6508°E, under the abdomen in the former species (Figs 7 and deck, 17 Nov 2019, coll. K M Curtis, 1 female 8) and by the very different form of the male and an eggsac (CMNZ 2020.94.10). pedipalp (Figs 5 and 6) and female epigyne (Figs 9 and 10). Diagnosis: Philoponella congregabilis can be separated from other species in the genus Description: Male. Total length 2.95, carapace by the shape of the median apophysis bulb length 1.54, sternum length 0.92, abdomen (Fig. 5) and the well-developed conductor length 1.91, carapace width 1.46, sternum basal lobe (Fig. 6). The large dorsal projection width 0.69, and abdomen width 1.21. Leg I on the anterior half of the abdomen (Figs total length 7.41, length of articles: femur 2.28, 7 and 8) separates P. congregabilis from the patella 0.64, tibia 1.79, metatarsus 1.74, tarsus other two Australian Philoponella species, P. 0.96; leg II 3.77 (1.27, 0.47, 0.65, 0.86, 0.52); leg variabilis and P. pantherina. The gonopores III 2.73 (0.85, 0.30, 0.45, 0.67, 0.46); leg IV 4.69 of P. congregabilis (Fig. 8) are more anterior (1.36, 0.53, 0.97, 1.12, 0.71). Chelicerae length than those of P. variabilis and P. pantherina. 0.35 and chelicerae width 0.21. Carapace black- The median apophysis bulb is much smaller brown with sparse yellow-brown pubescence in P. congregabilis than it is in P. variabilis. and a longitudinal median strip of whitish Philoponella congregabilis can be separated setae (Fig. 11). Chelicerae, endites, labium from Waitkera waitakerensis, which is the only a dusky red with blackish tones, sternum A redescription of Philoponella congregabilis, an Australian hackled orb weaver spider 89 Figure 8. Female Philoponella congregabilis, lateral view (ZMH A0002084). Abbreviation: PER, posterior epigynal rim black-brown with cream setae (Fig. 12). and conductor spike with pointed tip (Fig. 5). Sternum brown with mostly white setae and Conductor blade well-developed (Fig. 6). some pale orange-brown setae (Fig. 12). Legs Female. Total length 4.90, carapace length pale orange-brown distally to black-brown 1.50, sternum length 1.02, abdomen length proximally. Legs with dark brown bands both 3.81, carapace width 1.27, sternum width 0.72, ventrally and dorsally; many segments with and abdomen width 2.03. Leg I total length light proximal bands and dark distal bands. 6.14, length of articles: femur 1.97, patella Calamistrum on dorsal surface of metatarsus 0.59, tibia 1.49, metatarsus 1.34, tarsus 0.75; IV (Fig.